The answer is: they don't

Came here to say just this

While I would tend to agree, all of the "Insiders" are saying Lehner is going to re-sign there, and that they are going to take a serious run at Pietro... so the question is, how?

Habs don't add a high pick if they retain salary.

I'd say Armia (1m retain) + 5th pick OR Armia no retention + 2nd pick

MAF is owed 12.5M for his last 2 years, no chance Melnyk will pay that for a "vet presence"

Do you think they move Marchessault or Smith? I get the feeling they like Tuch a lot.

I don't see Fleury waiving for OTT

Ya, maybe... I think one of the wingers have to go.
They can't afford to pay $4.75m-$5m for a W to play on the 3rd line.

He doesn't necessarily have to.
He only has a 10-team no trade list.
If OTT isn't on that list, he has no choice.
(Look at what happened to Staal with BUF)

Ya, maybe not... But it's not just the vet presence. They also get a (probably quite high) 2nd round pick as well.
And they should have a solid presence in net to help with their rebuild. It won't help the kids develop if they get shelled every night.

I get it about Melnyuk being cheap tho... so maybe it doesn't work.

Quite high? That pick will probably be in the last 4 of the 2nd round. Melnyk's so cheap he just bought out Bobby Ryan (who was helping him hit the floor) for a total of 3.2M saved

But why wouldn't OTT be on that list...?

It is New Jersey's 2nd rounder that's included in the deal, so yes, probably quite high.

And ya... just saw the Ryan news.

whatever.. for Tuch.. YES

Players and their agents try to use those 10-team lists as strategic as possible to gain as much control as possible over the situation.
Maybe he doesn't think there is a high chance of being dealt to OTT, so didn't include them in the 10?
That's what happened with Staal to BUF. He wouldn't have chosen to go there.

I'd say Armia (1m retain) + 5th pick OR Armia no retention + 2nd pick[/quote]

MTL said hell yes bro!

I'd choose BUF over OTT every time. But we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

especially not considering we just bought out a similarly priced veteran presence (unless that was to make space for MAF)

Leafs and Sens say no.

Zero chance they move Carrier and pay Cousins 1.7m, and move Tuch over Marchessault.

Also paying 2.6m for a meh backup.

Do you honestly believe the team that gave 9.5m of cap they didn't have to Stone won't move players out again for Pietrangelo and Lehner? They went through this exact same thing last year.

Um yes, because this time it totals at least 13.5M

They're already moving out Fleury and starting with 4.9m cap space. Last year they were well over the cap and had Karlsson to re-sign.

Sure... move Marchessault instead of Tuch, or Cousins instead of Carrier. That would work too.

And paying $2.6m for a backup is the price for not paying $7m for a backup.

Sure, take him back in a trade. But move him out somewhere else and sign someone like Ryan Miller 1 year 900k.